Compare the2024 Chevrolet Equinox EVVS 2024 Kia Niro EV

The Chevrolet Equinox EV has standard driver and front passenger side knee airbags mounted low on the dashboard. These airbags helps prevent the driver and front passenger from sliding under their seatbelts or the main frontal airbags; this keeps them better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. Knee airbags also help keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The Niro EV doesn’t offer a front passenger side knee airbag.

The Equinox EV has all-wheel drive to maximize traction under poor conditions, especially in ice and snow. The Niro EV doesn’t offer all-wheel drive.

The Equinox EV has a standard HD Surround Vision to allow the driver to see objects all around the vehicle on a screen. The Niro EV only offers a rear monitor and front and rear parking sensors that beep or flash a light. That doesn’t help with obstacles to the sides.

Both the Equinox EV and the Niro EV have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, front wheel drive, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning and available driver alert monitors.

The Chevrolet Equinox EV weighs 1202 to 1320 pounds more than the Kia Niro EV. The NHTSA advises that heavier vehicles are much safer in collisions than their significantly lighter counterparts.

The Equinox EV’s corrosion warranty is 1 year longer than the Niro EV’s (6/100,000 vs. 5/100,000).

There are almost 4 times as many Chevrolet dealers as there are Kia dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Equinox EV’s warranty.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2023 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Chevrolet vehicles are better in initial quality than Kia vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Chevrolet above average in initial quality. With 4 more problems per 100 vehicles, Kia is rated lower.

The Equinox EV’s standard electric motor produces 12 more horsepower (213 vs. 201) and 48 lbs.-ft. more torque (236 vs. 188) than the Niro EV’s electric motor. The Equinox EV’s optional electric motors produces 87 more horsepower (288 vs. 201) and 145 lbs.-ft. more torque (333 vs. 188) than the Niro EV’s electric motor.

As tested in Car and Driver the Chevrolet Equinox EV electric motors is faster than the Kia Niro EV:

The Equinox EV can travel longer on a full charge than the Niro EV on a full charge:

For better stopping power the Equinox EV’s brake rotors are larger than those on the Niro EV:

The Equinox EV’s standard front and rear disc brakes are vented to help dissipate heat for shorter stops with less fading. The rear discs on the Niro EV are solid, not vented.

The Equinox EV stops shorter than the Niro EV:

For better traction, the Equinox EV has larger standard tires than the Niro EV (245/55R19 vs. 215/55R17). The Equinox EV’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Niro EV (275/40R21 vs. 215/55R17).

The Equinox EV’s optional tires provide better handling because they have a lower 40 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Niro EV’s 55 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Equinox EV has standard 19-inch wheels. Only 17-inch wheels are available on the Niro EV. The Equinox EV offers optional 21-inch wheels.

The Chevrolet Equinox EV’s wheels have 6 lugs for longer wheel bearing life, less chance of rotor warping and greater strength. The Kia Niro EV only has 5 wheel lugs per wheel.

The Equinox EV has a standard easy tire fill system. When inflating the tires, the vehicle’s integrated tire pressure sensors keep track of the pressure as the tires fill and tell the driver when the tires are inflated to the proper pressure. The Niro EV doesn’t offer vehicle monitored tire inflation.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Equinox EV’s wheelbase is 9.2 inches longer than on the Niro EV (116.3 inches vs. 107.1 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the Equinox EV is 1.6 inches wider in the front and 1.5 inches wider in the rear than on the Niro EV.

For greater off-road capability the Equinox EV has a greater minimum ground clearance than the Niro EV (6.4 vs. 5.9 inches), allowing the Equinox EV to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

The Equinox EV has 2.5 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Niro EV (102.2 vs. 99.7).

The Equinox EV has .2 inches more front legroom, 2.7 inches more front hip room, 2.3 inches more front shoulder room, .4 inches more rear headroom, 1.1 inches more rear legroom and .1 inches more rear shoulder room than the Niro EV.

The Equinox EV has a much larger cargo volume than the Niro EV with its rear seat up (26.4 vs. 22.8 cubic feet).

The Equinox EV has a 1500 lbs. towing capacity. The Niro EV has no towing capacity.

Standard Trailer Sway Control on the Equinox EV uses the StabiliTrak® sensors to detect trailer sway, then uses individual brakes to counteract any swaying and help keep the tow vehicle and trailer steady. The Niro EV doesn’t offer electronic trailer sway control.

The Equinox EV’s front and rear power windows all lower with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside of the car. The Niro EV’s standard power windows’ passenger windows don’t open automatically. The Niro EV Wave’s rear power window switches have to be held the entire time to lower them fully.

If the windows are left open on the Equinox EV the driver can close them all from a distance using the remote. On a hot day the driver can also lower the windows the same way. The driver of the Niro EV can only close the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

The Equinox EV’s LED headlights produce a whiter, brighter light (up to 3x) using five times less power than the Niro EV’s standard projector halogen headlights and light instantly. LED lights also last over twenty times longer than halogen.

The Equinox EV has a standard heated steering wheel to take the chill out of steering on extremely cold winter days before the vehicle heater warms up. A heated steering wheel costs extra on the Niro EV.

To keep a safe, consistent following distance, the Equinox EV has a standard Adaptive Cruise Control, which alters the speed of the vehicle without driver intervention. This allows the driver to use cruise control more safely without constantly having to disengage it when approaching slower traffic. The Niro EV doesn’t offer an adaptive cruise control.

The Chevrolet Equinox outsold the Kia Niro by almost six to one during 2023.